5 Medicinal Plants Used For Natural Remedies

Nature’s pharmacy includes hundreds of medicinal plants and herbs that can be used for healing. You probably have medicinal plants in your home or garden. Whether you are hiking in the woods or looking for a natural remedy these 5 plants can help.

Aloe vera – Aloe contains various compounds that reduce inflammation, swelling, redness, pain and itching. The plant can be used to treat burns, cuts and minor abrasions; also as a mild laxative. Cut and pop open a fresh aloe leaf and rub it on the wound.

Dandelion – Dandelion is a nutritious healing herb that stimulates the flow of bile, prevents gallstones and cleanses the liver. It enhances the body’s ability to eliminate toxins. Eat the leaves in salad or steam them as a veggie.

Lemon balm – lemon balm has a calming effect on heart palpitations and an agitated state of mind it can soothes stomach and calms nerves. Use in a tea to soothe tummy trouble or calm nerves, use two teaspoons of leaves for each cup of water, steep 10-20 minutes and drink. (not to be used during pregnancy as it can stimulate the uterus.)

Lavender – Lavender is a natural sedative, stress reliever, to restore calm and relieve tension. Add dried lavender to bathwater as aromatherapy to soothe and calm, or make tea from one teaspoon leaves and flowers steeped in one cup boiling water.

Parsley – Parsley leaves, roots and seeds all contain oil with significant diuretic and mild laxative properties it can be used as a breath freshener or for relief allergies and tummy troubles. Use two teaspoons dry leaves or one teaspoon of crushed seeds per cup of boiling water, steep for 10 minutes, then strain and drink as tea; chew on a few sprigs for bad breath.

Whether it’s an opioid-containing poppy flower used as a calming agent or the herb sage, an anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal treatment, medicinal plants date back centuries across numerous cultures.